There likely won’t be an offensive weapon selected with the first overall pick, nor the second, but don’t let that fool you. Wide receiver might be the deepest position in the draft, with a number of players capable of making an immediate impact in a pass-happy league even outside of the first round.

Seven receivers could be selected in the first round and likely two of those will go in the top 10, led by Clemson’s Sammy Watkins and Texas A&M’s Mike Evans. While those two are clearly the best receivers of the group, Oregon State’s Brandin Cooks, Southern California’s Marqise Lee, LSU’s Odell Beckham Jr., Penn State’s Allen Robinson and Ole Miss’ Donte Moncrief could all hear their name announced by Commissioner Roger Goodell in the first round.

That doesn’t even include the steals available in the middle rounds. Last year, the Chargers got a third-round gem in Cal’s Keenan Allen, who developed into one of the top rookies with 71 catches and 1,046 receiving yards. It wouldn’t be surprising to see third-rounders this year who have the same impact.

On the other hand, there aren’t as many game-changing tight ends in this draft. Only one, North Carolina’s Eric Ebron, is expected to be a first-rounder. Texas Tech’s Jace Amaro and Washington’s Austin Seferian-Jenkins could be second-day picks.

Teams looking for depth at tight end could find some value at the position in Day 3 with some solid options, including Iowa’s C.J. Fiedorowicz and Georgia’s Arthur Lynch.

THE FRONT-RUNNER

Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson

Watkins should go in the top five. Listed at 6-1 and 211 pounds, Watkins was immediately considered one of the best receivers in the country following his freshman year and shattered nearly every school receiving record in three seasons. The three-time first-team All-America is dynamic and versatile, with the ability to return kicks and even lineup in the backfield. He’ll be in contention for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

THE CONTENDERS

Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M

Evans is every quarterback’s dream. Just ask quarterback Johnny Manziel how many times Evans grabbed an off-balanced jump ball by using his 6-5, 231-pound frame to leap over everyone in the vicinity. He possesses unmatched size and strength and will be a top-10 pick. There should be a few teams calling the Vikings and looking to deal if he’s still on the board with the eighth pick.

Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina

He’ll need to improve as a blocker, but Ebron’s ability as a playmaking tight end isn’t in question. The All-ACC first-team selection broke the conference single-season record for receiving yards by a tight end (895) last year. Listed at 6-4 and 250 pounds, Ebron is a good route runner and has great hands.

Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State

Cooks might only be 5-10 and 189 pounds, but he’s durable and agile. Last year’s Biletnikoff Award winner, given to the nation’s top receiver, he ran a 4.33 40-yard dash time at the NFL combine and has made countless defenders whiff in three seasons. The consensus All-America broke both the Pac-12 single-season receptions (128) and receiving yards (1,730) records last year.

THE SLEEPER

Jared Abbrederis, WR, Wisconsin

He went from walk-on to one of the top receivers in the Big Ten last year. Abbrederis doesn’t have exceptional speed, but gains separation as a good route runner with reliable hands. He torched Ohio State cornerback Bradley Roby, a first-round talent, for 10 catches and 207 yards last season.

In a story Sept. 25 about NFL ratings, The Associated Press reported erroneously that the 16.04 million average viewership for NFL games this year took only Sunday afternoon games into account. In fact, the figure is a measurement of all games that were shown to a national audience, which includes some games played on Sunday, Monday and Thursday nights.

No matter what other challenges his administration faces, President Donald Trump is keeping up his running commentary on the NFL — tweeting Tuesday about the football league's TV ratings and suggesting it bar players from kneeling during the national anthem.

In one of the biggest crackdowns on the corrupting role of money in college basketball, 10 men — including a top Adidas executive and four assistant coaches — were charged Tuesday with using hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to influence star athletes' choice of schools, shoe sponsors, agents, financial advisers, even tailors.

In the first episode of our new Timberwolves podcast, Jerry Zgoda and Michael Rand examine the perceived strengths and weaknesses of this year's team, which starts the season with internal and external optimism.

Open: Case Keenum lit up the Buccaneers, just like everybody (nobody) expected. 8:00: Dalvin Cook is really good in all phases of the game. Who knew a running back was allowed to do that? 16:00: Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen: Where do they rank among NFL receiving duos. 30:00: A thoughtful national anthem discussion. 38:00: The Lions got hosed last week, and now they play the Vikings. 45:00: Your questions.